I'd Rather Be Working

Rating:
Summary: I'd Rather Be Working
Review: Ms. Backstrom herself suffers from fibromyalgia, so she understands the trials and struggles of living and trying to work with chronic pain. This book is full of advice, exercises, and practical knowledge to help those with disabilities find work they can do and the help that's available. With testimonials by others who've found a way to deal with their pain and still work, I'D RATHER BE WORKING is a must have for those who need to support themselves while dealing with illness or pain.

Ms. Backstrom takes you through the process of discovering marketable skills, dealing with government agencies, prejudice in the workplace, and laws governing employees with disabilities. If you are suffering from unfair treatment in the workplace, or find yourself unable to continue at your present job and need to discover new options, this is a book you won't want to miss. The book is loaded with resources, from education to job-training to self-tests to jump start the process of returning to work--for yourself or for someone else.

As a sufferer of chronic pain, I found the book to be a great resource as well as a source of encouragement and hope.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Sell Us Short!
Review: Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover, as in the case of Gayle Backstrom's recent release, "I'd Rather Be Working: A Step-by-Step Guide to Financial Self-Support for People With Chronic Illness." The clever cover graphics set the tone for this compact but enormously instructive manual. Aimed primarily at the audience of current or prospective workers who have chronic disabilities, this book encourages readers to keep a personal notebook with job-related information that will enhance and sustain their employability.

Relevant personal experiences of the author and other workers with Chronic Illnesses (CIs), such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, chronic back conditions,asthma, and immunosuppressant illnesses, are included throughout the book. "I'd Rather Be Working" also provides timely information and guidance to supervisory personnel and co-workers about some poorly understood chronic conditions and the challenges they present and how CIs cope with them on a daily basis or during flare-ups.

Chapter Nine, 'Finding That Job,' offers recommendations for both job-seeker and staff for gaining greater understanding of the attitudinal and physical barriers that may exist in the workplace. Many practical suggestions are provided for prospective workers with CIs that will assist them in presenting accurate portrayals of their capabilities and limitations to interviewers.

Advice for discussing necessary accommodations and assistive devices is also provided. Interwoven with this advice to workers, Ms. Backstrom offers real-life examples of how accommodations in keeping with the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA)can be made without undue cost or disruption in the workplace. Blatant or veiled discrimination against workers with CIs and other disabilities, unfortunately, can also be a problem. The material cited in "I'd Rather Be Working" is a gold mine for staff development in this area.

CIs with mental impairments or illnesses are often the target of rampant stigmatization in the workplace. Some developmental disabilities limit certain aspects of cognition, but not the ability or willingness to perform skill-appropriate tasks with competence and pride. Individuals diagnosed with mental illnesses, such as major depression, bipolar disorder, panic/anxiety disorders, and personality disorders, have also been shunned because of others' fears and overgeneralizations.

Even CIs with so-called "invisible symptoms" may react with anxiety, fatigue or flare-ups if they become a target of co-workers' antipathy. Despite adequate accommodations and medical management, rumors and charges of malingering and 'favoritism' in the form of specialized equipment or rest breaks may undermine the employability of eager and well-qualified workers.

"I'd Rather Be Working" includes numerous sidebars, self-assessment tools, statistics and other resources. The book provides an abundance of references from the private sector as well as from government agencies.

Overall, the book is an excellent source for finding and keeping a job as well as for creating a work environment that is CI-friendly. In these days of downsizing and economic fluctuation, I would recommend this book not only to prospective workers with CIs, but also to personnel staff members and to the universe of employees who share the designation, CJSA, that is, Chronic Job Security Anxiety!

Rating:
Summary: Go For It!
Review: This book is encouraging but at the same time realistic. The world is tough, the job market difficult, but with proper thought and a logical approach, a disabled person can find work. Maybe not exactly the dream job or what one prefers -- but employment -- something that boosts the ego and says,
"Hey, I'm worthwhile and producing."

I particularly like the step-by-step approach, the websites given for research, and the possible outside help listed, should a person stumble. Most of all, I like Backstrom's encouragement, and the fact she does know what she's talking about--she's been there, done that.